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"These thing are TANKS for your feet!" By sixbennetts from Upstate NY on 08/08/2009 Pros: Ankle Support, EXCELLENT build quality, GReat Price, Great Traction, Norwegian welt, Stable foot platform, Sturdy/Durable, Warm, Water Resistant Cons: Heavy, Long Break-in, Too Stiff/Not Flexible Best Uses: Cold Weather, Day Hiking, Everyday, Harsh Terrain, Heavy Loads, Long-Distance Hiking, Wet Conditions Describe Yourself: Adirondack UPS man, Avid Adventurer, Casual/Recreational, Professional/Guide Sizing: Feels true to size Bottom Line: Yes, I would recommend this to a friend Comments: I am a UPS man in Northern NY state. I need real boots that will last a LONG time. My family and I also hike the Adirondacks, so I needed a boot that would do both.
These are stiff! But that's good, because although it will take a long time to break these in, once they are they will last forever. (I wore out my last pair of old Alico Guides in 8 years, but I use them constantly). Had them resoled 4 times, so use that as an indicator of how much use I give these. I'm replacing mine because the eyelets have worn out, not the rest of the boot.
Build quality on these is phenomenal! These are true craftsmanship through and through. You will not find a better built boot. Norwegian welt means they can easily be resoled by your local shoe repair man. (I always resole with Vibram Montagne's).
Perwanger leather is VERY durable, and impregnated with a heavy duty wax for water resistance. But they breath well, something I didn't expect. I clean mine by using warm water and a stiff brush, dry completely, then retreat with Nikwax, as is suggested by the makers. They never cracked or leaked, ever.
I hope Sierra continues to offer this boot for serious back country people like me.
will buy this boot again,again By turk from millersburg,ohio on 07/29/2009 Pros: Great Traction, Sturdy/Durable, Warm, Water Resistant Best Uses: Cold Weather, Heavy Loads, Wear all year round, Wet Conditions Describe Yourself: Casual/Recreational Sizing: Feels true to size Bottom Line: Yes, I would recommend this to a friend Comments: i am a diabetic,have been for 57 yrs.These are the best boots for me.
By SoManyRoads from Italy on 07/28/2009 Pros: Ankle Support, Arch Support, Great Traction, Sturdy/Durable Best Uses: Harsh Terrain, Heavy Loads, Long-Distance Hiking Describe Yourself: Avid Adventurer Bottom Line: Yes, I would recommend this to a friend Comments: Bought the 10 1/2 and even with thick, heavy mountaineering socks and a liner they were too big. Usually wear a 10, but the last pair of welt boots I purchased some 8 years ago were 10's and my toes would jam into the front of the boots on decents. These were too big in 10 1/2, even sloppy. Great quality, if you can find the right fit, these will last for decades.
Excellent Tree Climber Too! By Hoof from Upstate New York Hill Country on 07/27/2009 Pros: Ankle Support, Arch Support, Great Traction, Sturdy/Durable, Water Resistant Best Uses: Cold Weather, Harsh Terrain, Heavy Loads, Light Loads, Long-Distance Hiking Describe Yourself: Avid Adventurer Sizing: Feels true to size Bottom Line: Yes, I would recommend this to a friend Comments: Fortunately a few web discussion entries from professional linemen motivated me to send back a new pair of lineman's boots in favor of these rock solid mountaineering boots. I needed to take down an old damaged birch tree in tight quarters and climbing with tree gaffs was the best option. The huge bonus is that I now have a crampon-ready, top of the line mountaineering boot (to boot)!
These boots broke in more easily than other posts made me think they would. Using the velcro between the outer and inner tongues to position the padded top to meet my angled-out shin bone was key. Initially I thought it was going to be a long painful haul to get the boot to give at that shin contact point with the stiff leather on the outer top edge of the inner tongue.
If you buy these boots because you want them to be stiff for functional reasons (they were magnificent bearing all of the stress of climbing irons for the 3 hours up in the tree), then I would steer clear of some of the mis-advise given elsewhere that may soften or seal the pores of the leather (like sno-seal and similar products). Go with nikwax if you want to enhance the water resistance.
So far, so good... I really like these boots!!
By Virginia Gentleman from The Old Dominion on 07/14/2009 Pros: Ankle Support, Great Traction, Sturdy/Durable, Water Resistant Best Uses: Day Hiking, Harsh Terrain, Heavy Loads, Long-Distance Hiking Describe Yourself: Avid Adventurer, Environmentalist Sizing: Feels true to size Bottom Line: Yes, I would recommend this to a friend Comments: I plan on taking these boots on extended backpacking trips in the Appalachains. I will need to break these beauties in for a few weeks first, though the initial comfort was better than I had anticipated (I always wear two pear of socks under these M-1 Shermans; one preferably a polypropaline liner and the other an expedition-weight wool sock). As my boots are quite new, I have nothing negative to report on them yet.
By critta from Brooks Range, Alaska on 07/04/2009 Pros: Ankle Support, Arch Support, Great Traction, Sturdy/Durable, Warm, Water Resistant Cons: Heavy, Long Break-in Best Uses: Day Hiking, Everyday, Harsh Terrain, Heavy Loads, Light Loads, Long-Distance Hiking, Wet Conditions Describe Yourself: Professional/Guide Sizing: Feels true to size Bottom Line: Yes, I would recommend this to a friend Comments: Long break in, but worth the wait!
By BuffaloBob from Staten Island,NY on 06/23/2009 Pros: Ankle Support, Arch Support, Great Traction, Sturdy/Durable, Warm, Water Resistant Best Uses: Cold Weather, Harsh Terrain, Heavy Loads, Long-Distance Hiking, Wet Conditions Describe Yourself: Avid Adventurer, Environmentalist Sizing: Feels true to size Bottom Line: Yes, I would recommend this to a friend Comments: These Boots are high quality and made the way trekking boots should be made. They may not be for everybody but if you want a boot that will last and keep you moving then these are for you. They are heavy and do require a break in period but they won't fall apart when you are ten miles from camp.
By Swamp Daddy from Western Massachusetts on 06/22/2009 Pros: Ankle Support, Arch Support, Comfortable/No Break-In, Flexible, Sturdy/Durable, Warm, Water Resistant Best Uses: Day Hiking, Everyday, Harsh Terrain, Heavy Loads, Light Loads, Long-Distance Hiking, Wet Conditions Describe Yourself: Avid Adventurer Sizing: Feels true to size Bottom Line: Yes, I would recommend this to a friend Comments: After a week of constant break-in wear (no loads but three applications of Sno Seal), my Guides feel great. My pair is medium width, and runs a little narrow in the heel but average across the ball, perfect for backpacking. Nice strong heel counter. Overall, stiffer than most of what's on the market today, but back in the 70s these would qualify as an easy-break-in boot.
you'll want these more after few years By Scoutmaster Larry from Marietta, GA on 06/22/2009 Pros: Built like a brick s-h, Should last a lifetime, Sturdy/Durable Cons: Heavy, Long Break-in, Too Stiff/Not Flexible Best Uses: Harsh Terrain, Heavy Loads, Long-Distance Hiking Describe Yourself: Casual/Recreational Sizing: Feels true to size Bottom Line: Yes, I would recommend this to a friend Comments: I had to return because I didn't think I would live long enough to break them in
By DigitalEyze from Incline Village, NV on 06/18/2009 Pros: Ankle Support, Great Traction, Sturdy/Durable, Warm Cons: Heavy, Long Break-in Best Uses: Harsh Terrain, Heavy Loads, Long-Distance Hiking Describe Yourself: Avid Adventurer Sizing: Feels true to size Bottom Line: Yes, I would recommend this to a friend Comments: Alico New Guide boots are the "heavy duty" entry in Alico's product line. Alico's are purpose-built, and if long trips over harsh terrain with a heavy pack are your use, these are the boots for you. This said, if you have lighter duty use in mind, Tahoes or Summits might be a better choice.
The boots are absolute tanks. They are built to provide support and protection. Thick, solid leather with a rugged sole. They are stiff, so plan to use them as everyday boots for a few weeks before taking them out on the trail in order to break them in comfortably. They should also get a coat or two of waterproofing spray (I use Kiwi Camp Dry) to keep them dry.
Like all Alico boots, the New Guides are true to size, so they should be ordered a size large to allow the two pairs of socks a rugged hike requires, and a 3rd party insole as all Alico boots require.
Alico makes great boots. I have Tahoes, Summits, and now New Guides. As if I need a reason, I'm looking forward to hitting the trail to give these the pounding they beg for.
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